Beef feedlot school announced
Beekeeping and tillage workshops are planned

Published: February 21, 2012 4:00AM

If you follow the agriculture markets you know that prices for cattle are at historic highs. However, those who feed cattle know that grain prices are also high and seriously impact profit potential. Are there management options, including feedstuff options, that could be used to increase profit potential? Area cattle farmers have an opportunity to get answers to these questions.

A beef feedlot school sponsored by Richland County Extension is being held in Mansfield on Thursday at 7 p.m. All area cattlemen are invited to attend. The school will be held at the Longview Center Buckeye Room at 1495 W. Longview Ave., Mansfield. Instructor is Dr. Francis Fluharty, OSU ruminant nutrition specialist from the OARDC. Topics that will be covered include: Feeding considerations for dried distillers grains in beef diets; New generation versus old generation dried distillers grains; and OSU feedlot research update.

Beekeeping workshop

Bees play an integral role in the agricultural and horticultural world. According to the USDA, bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables. About one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honeybee pollination. On top of that, consider that the number of managed honeybee colonies has dropped from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2.5 million today. There is a need for more beekeepers. As with any other enterprise, educational opportunities provide a means to increase the success of that enterprise.

The Tri-County Beekeepers Association is holding its annual spring beekeeping workshop on March 2-3 at the OARDC Fisher Auditorium and Shisler Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Friday's program runs from 5:30-9 p.m. The Saturday program runs from 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Both days include breakout sessions and speakers that will address topics of interest for both the experienced as well as the beginning beekeeper. This is a good opportunity to grow in your knowledge of beekeeping, learning from session speakers, as well as networking with experienced beekeepers from around the area. Cost of the workshop is $45 per person. For more information visit the Tri-County Beekeepers website at: www.tricountybeekeepers.org, or by phone at 220-801-1309.

Conservation tillage, technology conference

Registrations are now being accepted for the annual conservation tillage and technology conference that will be held March 6-7 at the McIntosh Center of Ohio Northern University in Ada. This conference attracts farmers and certified crop advisers from a multi-state area. The conference will feature a presentation from Jill Clapperton, a nationally known rhizosphere ecologist, who will speak during the opening general session on "Healthy Soil for Higher Yields."

This year's conference will host more than 60 presenters who will speak on a wide range of topics such as eco-farming, managing drainage water, cover crop mixtures, precision agriculture, nutrient management and, of course, conservation tillage practices. Presenters include speakers from several universities, farmers and industry representatives. Included within the conference are the "Corn University" and the "Soybean School."

The Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference is sponsored by OSU Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Northwest Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ohio No-Till Council.

The full schedule and registration information can be found at http://ctc.osu.edu. Participants may register online or by mail. Registration for the full conference is $80 (or $60 for one day) if received by Feb. 29.

Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.